July 7, 2012

It has been a very busy June and early July here at Chez Goolsbee, so apologies for the lack of updates. The day after Nick Graduated he and Chris hopped in the car and drove “home” to Washington state where they visited friends. Nick was able to attend the AHS Graduation ceremony where he would have walked across the stage had we not moved to Oregon. Christopher went to Seattle and took the LSAT test for entrance into Law School, afterwards he visited friends. Sue & I dashed up to Olympia on Friday, June 15th to watch Christopher participate in graduation at The Evergreen State College. He completed his degree in March, but the ceremony took place at the end of the Academic Year. Like all things at Evergreen the event was filled with unbridled enthusiasm and energy – along with a healthy dose of chaos. It was wonderful.

The scene as the graduates file in.

The day was sunny and beautiful, and we were all there to see Christopher receive his Degree.

A little creative chaos never hurt anyone.

Speedy the Geoduck makes an appearance.

TESC’s mascot is the Geoduck and the school’s motto is “Omnia Exteras” (look it up) and the day was as out there are unrestrained as every other graduation is dull and constrained. Everyone just smiled and enjoyed it, including the school administrators and staff. The commencement speaker was PBS travel show host Rick Steves (of Edmonds, WA) and he delivered a passionate oratory on living life and seeing the world.

Rick Steves speaks.

We sat way at the back on a little grassy hill. Thankfully I brought my big glass so I could zoom in and find Christopher in the chaotic crowd of Greener Graduates. Can you spot him?

Where's Waldo?

After scanning the crowd for a long time I found him just before they all stood up and started proceeding across the stage:

Can you see that tow headed kid? That's my boy!

There he is!

Chris receives his diploma...

Shakes a few hands...

...including the College President...

...and then tries to find us.

He looked out over the crowd and thankfully spotted me behind my long lens and monopod – made his way back for hugs and photos.

With his Degree.

With his life-long friend Robert Peiffle, who also just graduated from the UW in Seattle.

2 Comments

[...] a polyester poncho in that heat was not appealing. My dad took pictures and wrote a nice piece here. Rick Steves spoke and I got the shake his hand. I had spent the rest of that week in Seattle [...]